Our Blog

Moving a business across state lines can be difficult in that you have to re introduce who you are and what your business can do. In the spring of 2011, Brit moved from the rocky mountains of Colorado to the dairy queen lands of Wisconsin. Continue Reading..

Dan Bennett Real Estate is a full service real estate agency located in the North Shore of Massachusetts. Dan Bennett has been a client of MDS for 5 years now and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with him and bringing his business to the internet world. Dan is a very well known man in his community, having done lots of charity work, sits on the board of Trustees, the local school boards, as well as the town of Selectmen. He is a trusted notary, realtor and a family man. Continue Reading..

So remember in 2011 when we posted about Dane Buy Local? Well last year was a tight year for MDS and we had to cut costs in all corners, sadly we had to cut our membership out. We made a promise that when the time was right we would re-join. That time has come and we are excited to announce that we are now back as members. Continue Reading..

These days, it seems as if every other web designer (and website spammer) is advertising their SEO services, promising to get your site to the top of Google’s search results. So what exactly is SEO, and what can it do for you? We’ve previously discussed white hat vs black hat SEO, SEO vs SEM, and the importance of links (with follow-up here and here), but the topic changes so quickly that it’s worth following up.

For as long as there have been search engines, there has been search engine optimization: trying to get your website to the top of the results. Often, this was a battle between the search engines and the web designers – a technique (such as meta keywords) would be abused (keyword spam) and then discounted by the search engines (mostly Google). Back when Google’s algorithm and results only changed a few times per year, a new technique could make a lot of money even if it only worked until the next Google update. These days, with Google constantly rolling out new updates, abusive (or black hat) techniques only work until Google devises an algorithmic way around them.
This isn’t to say that SEO is a bad thing. Google actively encourages white hat SEO, where you optimize your site to create the best possible experience for both users and search engine spiders; they even provide a list of webmaster guidelines to help you. Having a site that loads quickly, for example, and an easy to use navigation structure, can boost your search engine ranking. As more people have abused links, getting many thousands of links from as many places as possible, Google has put more emphasis on trusted sites: one link from an authoritative site in your niche can be worth more than many, many links from random websites.
These days, it’s possible for a page to rank for a term that doesn’t appear anywhere on it, or in the anchor text of any links going to that page. How? Google knows that various terms are related, so it can figure out that, for example, if your page ranks highly for “dog vets”, “dog medicine”, and “dog exercise”, then it’s probably also relevant to the search “dog health”. At the same time, while they might not be able to tell whether or not you’re using excellent grammar, search engine spiders can look for key words that indicate authoritative speech on a topic; for example, if most of the authoritative pages on a topic use keyword X, then whether or not I use keyword X can be an indicator as to whether or not I’m an expert on the topic. The goal (which so far has had mixed success) is to promote pages written by people who really are (or at least, sound like) experts on the topic, under the assumption that those are most likely to be useful. We’ll come back to this topic in another article, when we talk about Google+.
The takeaway is that, while the most effective techniques change year to year (and even day to day) the key to having a firm foundation for top rankings is to build a clean, easy to use site that provides your readers with the information they’re looking for. Keeping up with the latest design techniques and tools is a full-time job in itself, but it helps to create the great user experience that readers and search engines love.

The summer was coming to a close and fall semester had just started. A few weeks prior to the day, my father and I were having a conversation about national tragedies, and how they affect our nation. One thing he said that has forever stuck in my head all these years and on the day of:

“Brit, you will face a national tragedy in your lifetime”

At the time I really thought but did not say out loud “What? No, impossible, we’re grownups here”. Although I did keep that statement in the back of my head and thought what if he ended up being right after all? I got my answer just two weeks later…

That morning I was awakened by a phone call from my sister: “Brit, turn on the TV, a airplane struck one of the World Trade Towers in New York. Hurry it is all over the place” Quickly I turned it on and saw it. I thought, that sucks, and how did they not see that, as I truly thought it was an accidental crash.

That lasted only a few minutes… until the second airplane hit. I knew it was no accident seeing the second plane and all of a sudden my father’s statement pierced my inner thoughts “Brit, you will face a national tragedy in your lifetime” This was a national tragedy.

I remember that day for both the nation coming together and at the same time falling to pieces. I was impressed with the outpouring of individual AND businesses that gave in the first few days to weeks following the day.

Something that bothered me on that day was a young women who was middle eastern came into my job, and stopped to look at the cashiers and I, asking us if she was “allowed” to shop here- stunned my coworkers and I all looked at each other and unanimously said “Of course.” I know at the time the middle east was being blamed for the attack, but I was brought up that it is individuals, not ethnic groups. So I had no problem, but in the weeks following I saw such hatred for the group, and that was how the nation was falling apart.

But let me focus on the positives in that moment. Where I worked, there was a blood donation center; it has always been there, but on and the days following 9/11 the lines went all the way down and around the shopping center. Grocery Stores and other delis in the area were donating snacks and water for the people in the line. I was so humbled to see this and on my breaks I would go out and chat with them, learning about them, and all of their connections to 9/11. Funds were created within hours and our nation was growing together as a family – no longer divided by our different ethnic groups or class. I think it was the first time ever that I saw where the nation spoke as one, not a nation of many. The nation came together and helped out, became more patient and compassionate to all.

It was inspiring to say the least.

Ten years later, I am still learning from 9/11 in how to be compassionate and that when we all join together and help out it betters the soul. Maybe that is why One Ear Productions enjoys working and partnering up as everyone involved is bettering their business or connections to charitable causes.

While I never knew personally any family affected by 9/11 I do know that the pain was felt by everyone and that we truly will not forget but if there is one thing we should walk away with, it is:

While 9/11 was a national tragedy, the nation came together in one of the worst moments
and forged new/renewed friendships, by our fierce love for our people & our nation.

Last month one of our clients recommended that I go with them to a networking event. It was hosted by Dane Buy Local. Due to schedule conflict and an upcoming trip, it was decided to wait until July.

Think Local First

As July settled down I started reseaching Dane Buy Local, as I have been actively looking for local networking businesses and clients. One thing that caught my attention is their slogan: Think Local First. For that is how I think, how can MDS better the local community? Granted my thoughts are geared towards local charities and youth groups to help and donate too, but I have been trying to network more and more with local businesses as a way to connect and meet to get inspired on my projects.

Another important reason for thinking local is I have grown up that the more the merrier and by that I mean I would rather help a few local business along with mine grow and build an incredible reputation as being very informative and help clients in referring them to the right businesses (if MDS does not provide a service that is needed) as that build trust among clients.

The hope for this as well as my other networking membership is to grow Moonlight Designs Studio, into a company that is known for its dedication and compassion to each and every local, national client that joins our family. For without our community, we would have not lasted as long as we have and continued growth.

Here at Moonlight Designs Studio, we have been having a debate- Should we design for iOS or not? Clearly if you know us well, we have all sorts of Apple products floating around and with the owner just (finally) acquiring an iPhone, it seems natural that the time has come to start a new venture into the mobile world.

About a month ago we stumbled on an request for a designer to help out with an overhaul to an app. As most know we love a good challenge and since the app is already currently available, we decided to respond. Next thing you know we are designing it for iPhone 3GS, iPhone4, and iPad 1, & 2. We learned a lot about the format and have been in close contact with the developer to make sure that they have all that they need.

Once the current app has been updated we will post info on the Name and the developer that we helped. We look forward to working with them in the future. We felt that if we are going to be designing apps, than we should register with Apple to make sure there are no problems in the future when a developer is releasing apps for the public.

In celebrating the owner’s birthday, USA’s birthday and everyone that has a birthday in June/July we are offering a new service called ” dedicated” designer.

HOW IT WORKS
You pay a base amount every month and have at least 40 hours (or more) in the month dedicated to your needs from Web, print, and even video needs. This service is for those who need a consistant amount of Design work needed. This includes the following and beyond:

Website Design/Coding

Website SEO

Website Updating as needed.

Social Media/eBlast Design

Print Design Service (Flyers, Brochures, Mailers, and so on…) [We do NOT print – will refer or send to your printer house]

Video Editing

WHO THIS IS FOR
This service is for those who have a lot of design work they need completed, but do not want to hassle with estimates on every project and on a certian budget. Clients that have one or two projects every couple of months – this is not recommended for.

Gearing up for our fourth anniversary this June we are looking to add more clients and fans. Our goal is 150 fans by June 1, and if we reach that goal ALL of our fans will get 50% OFF ONE Service from us for a single project.

How it Works – On June 1, 2011 at 11:59pm Central Time if we have 150 fans total, than all of our fans will be automatically awarded 50% OFF ONE project on June 2, 2011. If a current fan is under contract for an existing project that was started on or after April 15th 2011, will have the option to use the discount on that project or save it for another project.

In order to receive the discount, you must be a fan of Moonlight Design Studio’s fan page before or on June 1, 2011 and during the duration of the project.

If you are a fan but have no need to use any of our service you may pass your discount on to one family member or one friend who would benefit from one of our services, but you will no longer be eligible to receive the discount at a later date (Although you will be subjected to a Friends/Family Discount due to referring someone to us ).

Promotion must be used or a signed contract by September 1, 2011 as it expires on September 2, 2011.

Promotion will not be allowed to be combined with other promotions/ discounts offered by Moonlight Designs Studio, Inc.

For more information please contact us at info@moonlightdesignsstudio.com. Thank you for your support though out the last four years and may more to come!